#85385 12-04-2008 05:19 PM | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 | Hello all,
Eight months ago my father(72)was Dx with SCC oral cancer in the tonsil, lungs and sub-mandibular lymph nodes. He had radiation and chemo and is now done with all the treatments. In the last eight months he also had a heart attack, E-Coli, and a staph infection. Talk about nine lives. He is feeling great and is beginning to eat and taste food again. My question is his last PET scan shows a little light or activity on his tonsil area, the Doc just wants to wait for three months and redo this test. Can other things besides cancer make this light up. I believe the color was at a level four.
Missy moo
Last edited by Missymoo; 12-04-2008 05:20 PM.
Daughter of father (71) who has SCC in cheek, hyoid bone and lungs. 3 X paclitaxol and carboplatin every 21 days.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | many false positives - any inflammation can show up as well so no worries until you hear the word cancer.
Rita - Age 44
wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1
(R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | You didn't say when he finished his radiation? We have discussed this topic often before and it is quite common for post Tx scans to show inflammation or areas that can not be excluded if they are done within a relatively short period of time after Tx ends. My first 2 scans post Tx, one done 5 months post and the next one 8 months post both had areas that could not be excluded. It was not until the 3rd scan almost a year post Tx that I was all clear. Each of us can be very different so you still need to remain diligent about followup scans.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | My ENT wouldn't do a PET/CT scan until I was one year out, but he sure did a lot of physical exams during that time.
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 | Hi there,
Dad's last rad. was October 10th, not that long ago. Thank you for your replies.
Daughter of father (71) who has SCC in cheek, hyoid bone and lungs. 3 X paclitaxol and carboplatin every 21 days.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Just finished Oct 10th and he's already had a PET. That's very early.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 | Why do you think his doc ordered one so early? I know they are very expensive. His next one is in three months
Daughter of father (71) who has SCC in cheek, hyoid bone and lungs. 3 X paclitaxol and carboplatin every 21 days.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Congrats to your dad for getting thru tx. Sounds like he had a difficult time. PET scans show many false positives, especially when done so early.
My rad doc told me not to let my chemo doc jump the gun and schedule my 1st PET until at least 3 months out. This is due to all the false positives.
If the results worry you, talk to the doctor again about it. They can pull the results and look it over with you in great detail.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I have no idea but I would ask him for sure.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 | Hello all,
Just a note to say that my dad is still doing great, all tests are coming up negative. He gets checked every three months. The doctor said he is a miracle...
Daughter of father (71) who has SCC in cheek, hyoid bone and lungs. 3 X paclitaxol and carboplatin every 21 days.
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